Coromandal

Campervan Hire

New Zealand Camper vans guide to Thames .

Thames is located about 90 minutes drive by New Zealand camper van from Auckland , and is known as the gateway to the Coromandel. This is the main shopping place on the Coromandel peninsula and it has a range of boutiques, a historical main street and a modern shopping mall called Goldfrields.

Many camping grounds are available in the area and freedom camping is possible for those with a rental car and tent or for people with campervan hire.

Late last century the town was on of New Zealand 's largest. It was built to serve the pioneering industries of gold and Kauri logging. Today its colourful history can be felt when visiting the place with many pubs, old buildings and museums in the area.

Some of the attractions New Zealand campervans recommend:

 A Historical Museum which features displays of the gold rush last century, plus mining, forestry and farming exhibitions.

 Thames School of Mines Museum has an excellent display of minerals. The Thames Gold Min and Stamper Battery also have historic gold mine tours.

 Karaka Bird Hide – you can take a pleasant walk along a boardwalk through the mangroves to the Hide, where you can sit and watch birds on the Thames Firth.

 War Memorial Monument – This overlooks the township and is an excellent viewing point to get a photograph of the town.

Traveling by car hire or campervan rental to the north of Thames offers more opportunities.

North of Thames, highway 25 travels along the coast for about 32 km. You and your campervan will pass lots of nice bays and calm beaches, an ideal spot relaxing from driving the campervan. Fishing and shell fish are excellent all the way up the coast and the landscape is filled with pohutukawa trees which bloom in the summer.

Along the way you will pass through Whakatete, Ngarimu Bay , Te Puru, Tapu and other small towns. The Rapaura Watergradesn, 6 km inland from Tapu on the Tapu-Coroglen high way are open daily. There is also a square kauri tree which is thought to be over 1200 years old. This tree was left as a gentlemen agreement when the road was being built last century.

Travel by New Zealand campervan or hire car for rent in Auckland and Christchurch .